Liverpool FC Forum

[115-1073096938]

Dudek - 5. Far to many mistakes. A few clean sheets and a few good saves don't make up for some of the goals he's cost us already i'm affraid. I've lost confidence in Dudek now and i think his days are numbered.

Kirkland - 6. One game, done well to early to judge really.

Josemi - 6. Some crunching tackles and has shown he is superbly aggressive. In my opinion he's not a real improvement on Carragher. A bit better going forward but not as good defensively. Obviously he still needs to settle and i expect him to improve but i can't see him being the long term answer. A good squad player at least.

Carragher - 8. Out of position and hasn't let anyone down. Been superb so far and i expect it to continue. He loves the club more than anyone in the current squad and shows it every time he pulls on the shirt.

Hyypia - 7. Inconsistent but has still shown moments of class. Lacks the pressence he had a few years ago but still bosses the back line superbly and never misses a header. Great signing and a great player.

Riise - 8. Back to his best. Getting up and down, linking well and generally improving as a player. Has become solid defensively and looks the long term answer to the left back slot. At last he's showing his potential and will hopefully continue this form for us. Most improved player this season.

Finnan - 6. Improvement on last season, but still hasn't really produced. To be fair he's not a winger. I'd like to see him given a run at right back once Nunez comes back. His crossing is superb and his touch has come back. I don't think he's the answer but he's at least showing he deserves another chance.

Kewell - 5. Hot and cold. 15 minutes here and there. NEEDS to improve big time. Its not as if he can't do it. He has to step up a level or he'll be sold. Simple as that.

Luis Garcia - 7. Scored a few goals already and looks superb at anfield. Looks awful away from home though. I can see why Barca only played him at the Nou Camp. Hopefully thought this is just part of settling in. Looks like he has real potential to become a superb player. I like his link up play and creativety. He also adds good flair and unpredictability to our play.

Alonso - 7. Shown potential. Best passer of a ball i've seen by a mile. He pulls of the passes Gerrard tries with ease. His brain and awareness is superb and once Gerrard comes back i expect to see them form a superb partnership. They compliment each other in terms of attributes superbly and both are very different. I think with these two in the middle we can control every game we play.

Gerrard - 8. Before he got injured he was superb. Still needs to learn to keep the ball but the goals are coming into his game now aswell. Once his ball retention improves we'll have a complete midfielder. The thought of him and Alonso in the middle is a mouth waterin prospect.

Hamann - 7. Well what can i say? Quality. Not the player he was but still a valuable squad member will superb quality. Its a good job we still have him or we'd be in trouble at the moment.

Baros - 7. Efforts been superb. Plenty of enthusiasm and good skill. Scored some good goals aswell and is getting chances. Still a long way to go though before he's good enough to be a regular. Needs to improve his awareness, link play and unselfishness if he's to become a great player.

Cisse - 6. Looks a superb prospect and i think once he settles and gains confidence we'll have a player on our hands. Still to early to judge properly though. However, his attitude does need to improve.

Benitez - 7. Some good signings and has the team playing more fluently. Obviously it will take time and we aren't going to challenge straight away but i didn't expect that. We've lost three in the league, 2 to United and Chelsea, no disgrace in that and i think our home form NEEDED to be the first thing to be addressed. He's done that in style. The rest will come, but don't expect overnight miricales. There will be more bad results this season, next season is the one i expect to see us challenge.

[Paul C]

I agree with Professor Stu's assesment

Pretty much spot on there Stuy

[JBG]

I also think Stu's spot on with the above, although I'd upgrade Dudek to a 6 and downgrade Baros and Riise to 6.

Riise has definitely improved, but he still frustrates me.

Baros has done reasonably well when he has played, but I think the effort he puts in is for Baros and not for Liverpool FC.

I think its a good assessment though Stu. 

[Leonmc0708]

Riise - 8. Back to his best. Getting up and down, linking well and generally improving as a player. Has become solid defensively and looks the long term answer to the left back slot. At last he's showing his potential and will hopefully continue this form for us. Most improved player this season.

Maybe if you have only watched the home games, but sadly lacking away from home. At Old Trafford, his fault for one goal, and has slumped the last three games.

More like a 6.5 than an 8.

Otherwise I do agree....

[jim_morrison_supported_liverpool]

aaaaahh

the old baros debate. felt my blood boiling reading that post jbg but any outburst will be vain, si i'll just ask a question.

just cos he's a bit greedy, and doesnt find players as much as he should, does that qualify for him doin everything for himself and not the club?
i mean there'd be millions of players you would have to accuse of this if this is so.

do you not think its just down to a lack of ability in a certain area rather than a pre-conceived self-centredness?

[Leonmc0708]

aaaaahh

the old baros debate. felt my blood boiling reading that post jbg but any outburst will be vain, si i'll just ask a question.

just cos he's a bit greedy, and doesnt find players as much as he should, does that qualify for him doin everything for himself and not the club?
i mean there'd be millions of players you would have to accuse of this if this is so.

do you not think its just down to a lack of ability in a certain area rather than a pre-conceived self-centredness?

Jim get over it will you, the lad is greedy end of.

[taff]

There is something there I just dont like
Can be class but not everyone is a team player simple as

Generally agree apart from Riise isnt quite there and Finnan is a defender and a squad one at that

Thank God for Carragher I was concerned at the start of the season about him to be honest

[jim_morrison_supported_liverpool]

aaaaahh

the old baros debate. felt my blood boiling reading that post jbg but any outburst will be vain, si i'll just ask a question.

just cos he's a bit greedy, and doesnt find players as much as he should, does that qualify for him doin everything for himself and not the club?
i mean there'd be millions of players you would have to accuse of this if this is so.

do you not think its just down to a lack of ability in a certain area rather than a pre-conceived self-centredness?

Jim get over it will you, the lad is greedy end of.

there's a difference between bein greedy and playin for yourself. most strikers have this. baros shows more passion than most. there's nothing to get over leon. i just have my opinion, so you get over it mate.

[Fowler_E7]

well cant really disagree with anything stu's said, maybe a bit harsh on josemi but overall a good assesment of the team so far

[115-1073096938]

Bit generous on Riise. Should have said 7.

[banana]

I agree with a lot. But if you say Carragher is out of position I must correct you. Central defence is his natural and preferred position. And why did you not comment on Steve Warnock? He is also a part of the team. And Diao and Traore have played just as much as Kirkland, a player you did comment on.

[JBG]

I think Baros is a decent player Jim and I was one of many grumbling about his non inclusion last year but he's always been an egotistical personality.

Proof:

1. First Press-Conference Dec. 2001: "Liverpool fans will forget about Robbie Fowler when they see me".

2. Houllier's illness: "The sooner Mr. Houllier recovers from illness the better for me. He (Phil Thompson) doesn't really know what he's doing and he won't pick me."

3. Last season after recovering from injury: "I can't wait to return from injury. The team needs some inspiration and I will come back and score the goals that gets us into the champions league".

4. On being left on the bench last year: "I can't understand the manager picking Heskey when he's not scoring and he leaves me on the bench".

5. After European Championships: "I'm not sitting on the bench at Liverpool next season, especially after being the top scorer in Euro 2004".

6. On Barcelona: "I dream at playing at Barcelona one day. I mean, you can't stay at a club like Liverpool forever."

7. On Houllier: "I was going to hand in a transfer request if Houllier had stayed as he obviously didn't like me."

(obviously the above are paraphrased)

Its all me, me, me with Baros. In fairness to him his ego motivates him into doing a lot of hard work, but when you see Baros chasing down a long ball (good) and then dropping his head and trying to dribble out of an impossible situation when his team mates are better placed (bad) you know the guy is playing just for himself.

That can be a good and a bad thing depending on what Benitez can get out of him. There have been plenty of great players in the past who only played for themselves (Rivaldo, Careca, Romario, Effenberg, Matteus, Hoddle etc) but good managers were able to turn their egos into positive things on the pitch.

[115-1073096938]

I agree with a lot. But if you say Carragher is out of position I must correct you. Central defence is his natural and preferred position. And why did you not comment on Steve Warnock? He is also a part of the team. And Diao and Traore have played just as much as Kirkland, a player you did comment on.

Warnock is a player i forgot about. 6. Looked impressive so far shown glimpses of potential and that he could become a good player in a few years.

Diao and Traore don't need commenting on.

Carragher is a right back. Simple as that. Its his best position by a mile. Just because he lacks attacking abilities doesn't mean he's a centre half. You don't play players out of position to disguise a weakness in their game. Carraghers best position is right back. Any match going fan with an ounce of knowledge will back that up.

[JBG]

Carragher wasn't too hot at right back in the second half of 2002/03 Stu (from an attacking point of view at least: he's always been very competent defensively.)

Do you not remember all the times he got possession just inside his own half with acres of space in front of him to attack into only for him to get nervous and square it to Henchoz?

[Fowler_E7]

carragher has stated that central defence is his prefered position and he has been in my opinion our best defender this season so far